Game Night

Month in Review – November 2016

We got through a very crazy month for the Traverse City Board Gamers group.  This month we had quite a few birthdays to celebrate with dedicated game nights and also the annual Ticket to Ride Tournament as well.  This was definitely a month that I learned the true value of planning and promotion.  One of which I believe we did well and the other I feel was faltered a bit.  

In the aspect of planning, we accomplished a lot in preparation for the event itself with several donations from Right Brain Brewery which was also hosting the event.  The time change made a real challenge for lighting as Right Brain Brewery is not the greatest for lighting.  We were able to effectively light each table with desk lamps and floor standing lights which worked quite well.  The cup holders were a great addition from last year that helped to keep the games all beer and drink free.  We also had plenty of copies of the game to facilitate all players that participated.  The final count for the evening was 16 players in the tournament with every participants walking away with several prizes from the prize vault which had been accumulated since early summer.  I would mark this as a success once again and look forward to the possibilities next year.

The aspects of the tournament that I was not quite as satisfied with was the promotion of the event.  I never got around to printing up flyers or promote the event beyond Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.  I need to start going back to the traditional methods of promotion I did see 3 new faces that I haven’t seen at our normal game nights which was fantastic but I believe we can do better.  This will be something that I will put more focus on in the future and less on the prizes themselves.  I feel that with that method going forward will build a following from year to year and allow it to be more self sustaining.

Our regular game nights have also benefited from the innovations of the tournament as well.  We will be using the lighting as a tool moving forward with game night and are always looking to enhance the functionality of our weekly event at Right Brain Brewery.  Another tool that I’m interested in implementing would be something for scheduling game sessions during our game nights.  I would like a more fluid feel to the games being played and less apprehension about picking the games to play.  Everyone seems forgetful about requesting games to be brought and have to pick from the games that I have selected.  I do concede that I do have the tendency to bring the things that I want to play and less the games I know everyone knows how to play.  I feel if we had a system to make requests and schedule who they want to play with then we can solve many stagnation issues that seem to emerge.

That is enough chatting about the month and lets look at the number save these last few words about the numbers.  I included the data from the Ticket to Ride Tournament which may have skewed the data slightly.  The tournament accounted from 8 total plays of Ticket to Ride at 2 plays per person.  Any plays beyond that is extra plays which I noticed was mostly practice for the event.  Enjoy!


above and below

Steve, Ramon, Amanda S, and Eric H (clockwise starting from the left) playing “Above and Below”


Statistics for November 2016

Total Plays –     65

Number of Different Games Played –     29

Number of New Games Played –     9

Most Played Game (with tournament plays) –     Ticket to Ride

Most Played Game (Without Tournament Plays) –     Jaipur

Number of Prizes Handed out in the Ticket to Ride Tournament –     37


batman loveletter

Batman Love Letter


Games Played in November 2016

Game Qty
Ticket to Ride 13
Splendor 5
Jaipur 4
Karuba 4
Animal Upon Animal 3
Patchwork 3
Potion Explosion 3
Above and Below 2
Discoveries 2
No Thanks! 2
The Ancient World 1
Blokus 1
Cacao 1
Deus 1
Euphoria: Build a Better Dystopia 1
Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King 1
Jenga 1
Lanterns: The Harvest Festival 1
Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game 1
Love Letter: Batman 1
Nippon 1
Origin 1
Orléans 1
Pandemic: The Cure 1
The Pursuit of Happiness 1
Scotland Yard 1
Scythe 1
SeaFall 1
Stone Age 1

 

blood rage

Blood Rage Miniatures via Prisma App


Player Abigail
Gamer Level 2
Plays 3
Change of Plays from October +1
Most Played Game Ticket to Ride
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Sophia, Eric H, and Julie
Achievement Pins Gained in November 0
Total Pins Attained 1

 

brix

Play testing Brix at our Friendly Localish Game Store in Suttons Bay, Michigan called Brain Storm


Player Adam
Gamer Level 3
Plays 2
Change of Plays from October +2
Most Played Game Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Amanda S. and Jessica
Achievement Pins Gained in November 0
Total Pins Attained 2

 

euphoria

“Euphoria” from Stonemaier Games


Player Amanda M.
Gamer Level 1
Plays 2
Change of Plays from October +2
Most Played Game Ticket to Ride
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Ramon
Achievement Pins Gained in November 0
Total Pins Attained 0

 

FLGS

Brain Storm in Suttons Bay, Michigan


Player Amanda S.
Gamer Level 11
Plays 25
Change of Plays from October +13
Most Played Game Discoveries
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Sophia and Kyle
Achievement Pins Gained in November 0
Total Pins Attained 9

 


game night

Game Night is about to get started


Player Amy
Gamer Level 2
Plays 9
Change of Plays from October +5
Most Played Game Splendor
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Ramon
Achievement Pins Gained in November 0
Total Pins Attained 0

 


 

isle of skye

Steve, Amanda S, Adam, Jessica, and Eric H (clockwise from the left) playing “Isle of Skye”


Player Andrew
Gamer Level 10
Plays 14
Change of Plays from October -4
Most Played Game Ticket to Ride
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Ramon
Achievement Pins Gained in November 1
Total Pins Attained 7

 


karuba

“Karuba” from HABA


Player Candis
Gamer Level 5
Plays 3
Change of Plays from October -9
Most Played Game Potion Explosion
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Jordan and Kyle
Achievement Pins Gained in November 0
Total Pins Attained 0

legendary

Sophia, Adam, and Jessica (clockwise from the left) playing “Legendary: A Marvel Deckbuilder”


Player Caroline
Gamer Level 6
Plays 2
Change of Plays from October +2
Most Played Game Ticket to Ride
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Paul and Kate G
Achievement Pins Gained in November 0
Total Pins Attained 1

 

origins

“Origin” from Matagot


Player Drew
Gamer Level 1
Plays 2
Change of Plays from October +2
Most Played Game Above and Below
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Andrew
Achievement Pins Gained in November 0
Total Pins Attained 0

 

orleans2

Esther (left) and Ramon (right) playing “Orleans”


Player Eric B
Gamer Level 7
Plays 8
Change of Plays from October -2
Most Played Game No Thanks
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Amanda S
Achievement Pins Gained in November 0
Total Pins Attained 1

 


euphoria2

“Euphoria” art via Prisma App


Player Eric H
Gamer Level 7
Plays 8
Change of Plays from October -13
Most Played Game Ticket To Ride
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Kate H, Terry, and Amanda S
Achievement Pins Gained in November 0
Total Pins Attained 0

 

 


pandemic the cure

“Pandemic: The Cure” from Z-Man Games


Player Esther
Gamer Level 25
Plays 19
Change of Plays from October -5
Most Played Game Ticket To Ride
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Kyle
Achievement Pins Gained in November 2
Total Pins Attained 25

 

orleans

Cyrus and “Orleans” via Prisma App


Player  Greg
Gamer Level 5
Plays 2
Change of Plays from October +2
Most Played Game Ticket to Ride
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Paul and Kate G
Achievement Pins Gained in November 0
Total Pins Attained 1

 

patchwork

“Patchwork” via Prisma App


Player Jessica
Gamer Level 10
Plays 11
Change of Plays from October -1
Most Played Game Ticket to Ride
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Amanda S
Achievement Pins Gained in November 0
Total Pins Attained 8

prizes1

Assorted prizes from the Ticket to Ride Tournament 2016


 

Player Joe
Gamer Level 1
Plays 1
Change of Plays from October -2
Most Played Game The Pursuit of Happiness
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Ramon
Achievement Pins Gained in November 0
Total Pins Attained 0

 

resource

“Treasure Chest” resources from Stonemaier Games


Player Jordan
Gamer Level 3
Plays 3
Change of Plays from October -10
Most Played Game Potion Explosion
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Kyle
Achievement Pins Gained in November 0
Total Pins Attained 0

 

pursuit of happiness

Andrew, Ramon, Joe, and Amy (bottom left moving clockwise) playing “The Pursuit of Happiness”


Player Julie
Gamer Level 1
Plays 2
Change of Plays from October +2
Most Played Game Ticket to Ride
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Amanda M
Achievement Pins Gained in November 0
Total Pins Attained 0

 

RPG

“Phoenix: Dawn Command” at the War Room


Player Kate G
Gamer Level 1
Plays 2
Change of Plays from October +1
Most Played Game Ticket to Ride
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Ramon
Achievement Pins Gained in November 0
Total Pins Attained 0

 

RPG2

Durant Class in “Phoenix: Dawn Command”


Player Kate H
Gamer Level 6
Plays 9
Change of Plays from October -1
Most Played Game Ticket to Ride
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Sophia
Achievement Pins Gained in November 2
Total Pins Attained 3

 

scythe

“Scythe” from Stonemaier Games


Player Kenz
Gamer Level 6
Plays 3
Change of Plays from October +3
Most Played Game Karuba
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Kyle
Achievement Pins Gained in November 0
Total Pins Attained 1

 

prizes2

Assorted prizes from the Ticket to Ride Tournament 2016


Player Kyle
Gamer Level 34
Plays 27
Change of Plays from October -3
Most Played Game Karuba
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Esther
Achievement Pins Gained in November NA
Total Pins Attained NA

 

seafall

Eric H (left) and Esther (right) playing “Seafall”


Player Matt
Gamer Level 3
Plays 3
Change of Plays from October -10
Most Played Game Potion Explosion
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Jordan and Kyle
Achievement Pins Gained in November 0
Total Pins Attained 0

 

stone age3

“Stone Age” via Prisma App


 

Player Melissa
Gamer Level 1
Plays 2
Change of Plays from October +2
Most Played Game Ticket to Ride
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Amanda M. and Julie
Achievement Pins Gained in November 0
Total Pins Attained 0

 

splendor

Sophia (left) and Steve (right) playing “Splendor”


Player Paul
Gamer Level 1
Plays 2
Change of Plays from October +2
Most Played Game Ticket to Ride
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Ramon
Achievement Pins Gained in November 0
Total Pins Attained 0

 

TTR tournament

Kate G, Ramon, Kate H, and Esther (top left moving clockwise) playing in the Ticket to Ride Tournament 2016


Player Ramon
Gamer Level 13
Plays 13
Change of Plays from October +4
Most Played Game Ticket to Ride
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Amanda S
Achievement Pins Gained in November 2
Total Pins Attained 8

 

TTR tournament2

Steve, Eric H, and Sophia (top left moving clockwise) playing in the Ticket to Ride Tournament 2016


Player Russel A
Gamer Level 1
Plays 4
Change of Plays from October +4
Most Played Game Seafall
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Kyle, Andrew, and Terry
Achievement Pins Gained in November 0
Total Pins Attained 0

 

TTR tournament3

Amanda M, Melissa, and Andrew (top left moving clockwise) playing in the Ticket to Ride Tournament 2016


 

Player Sophia
Gamer Level 10
Plays 17
Change of Plays from October +11
Most Played Game Splendor
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Amanda S. and Kyle
Achievement Pins Gained in November 0
Total Pins Attained 6

 

TTR tournament4

Greg (left) and Paul (right) playing in the Ticket to Ride Tournament 2016


Player Steve
Gamer Level 1
Plays 5
Change of Plays from October +3
Most Played Game Ticket to Ride
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Amanda S
Achievement Pins Gained in November 0
Total Pins Attained 0

TTR tournament5

Ticket to Ride Tournament 2016 at Right Brain Brewery in Traverse City, Michigan


Player Terry
Gamer Level 1
Plays 5
Change of Plays from October +5
Most Played Game Seafall
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Ramon and Jordan
Achievement Pins Gained in November 0
Total Pins Attained 0

 

stone age2

Jason F (left) and Esther (right) playing “Stone Age”


Player Jason F
Gamer Level 1
Plays 2
Change of Plays from October +2
Most Played Game Stone Age
Nemesis (Player lost to the Most) Esther
Achievement Pins Gained in November 0
Total Pins Attained 0

 

prizes3

Assorted prizes from the Ticket to Ride Tournament 2016


Hopefully we will see you at Right Brain Brewery every Sunday in the month of December as we wrap up 2016 with some great gaming and friends.  Hopefully we will have some new surprises and fun.  Next month will be a much different statistics than our typical post.  I’ll be putting together a year in review statistical analysis.  This will be massive and very interesting so stay posted.

Happy Gaming!


windsor

Eric H with future Traverse City Board Gamer Windsor


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.